Liquid control apparatus



i u U 1 OUZHCH HUUIII Jan. 25, 1944. F. s. BLOOM 2,339,753

H LIQUID CONTROL APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A i j E E J0 22 INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID CONTROL APPARATUS Frederick S. Bloom, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application April 10, 1942, Serial No. 438,402

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for cor.- trolllng the flow of liquid and, in particular, to pressure-control apparatus such as regulators or pressure-reducing valves and the like.

In systems for supplying liquid or gas to a point of consumption, from a source which is subject to variable conditions, it is common to utilize a pressure-reducing valve or regulator. The function of the regulator, of course, is to maintain a constant pressure at the point of consumption, regardless of variations of pressure in the supply line. Such pressure-reducing valves or regulators function very satisfactorily for gases and most liquids. Usually the regulators are of the diaphragm type, and a dead-end connection is usually made from the downstream side of the regulator to apply pressure to one surface of the diaphragm whereby any tendency of the pressure on the downstream side to vary, immediately reacts on the diaphragm to correct itself.

Certain fluids largely used in industry have characteristics which prevent the proper functioning of a regulator as described above. Numerous industrial furnace installations, for example, are fired with tar or heavy 011. These fuels must be heated to temperatures of from 180 to 300 F. in order to maintain them sufficiently fluid to flow through the supply pipe and the burner nozzle. Although numerous attempts have been made to utilize the conventional regulator arrangement on a line supplying this type of fuel, experience shows that the liquid in the dead-end connection from the downstream side of the regulator to one side of the diaphragm thereof, cools after a short period of operation to such an extent that its viscosity is materially increased. As a result, the reaction of variations of pressure on the downstream side of the regulator is not transmitted immediately and accurately to the regulator diaphragm. Because of the sluggish action due to increased viscosity of the liquid, considerable variations in the pressure on the downstream side of the regulator may take place without correction and the end result is that the regulator does not function properly to maintain the desired constancy of pressure on the downstream side thereof.

I have invented a novel pressure regulator which overcomes the aforementioned difficulty and serves to maintain the desired constant pressure in supply lines handling liquids which have to be heated in order to flow readily. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide a regulator having means directly actuated by the pressure of the liquid as it flows through the supply line, for controlling the regulator valve. The simplest form of the invention includes a chamber through which the liquid flows on the way to the consuming device and a yieldable surface such as a diaphragm or bellows therein responsive to the pressure on the downstream side and effective to control a valve in the line supplying liquid to the chamber. With such provisions, the liquid which exerts the pressure on the control surface is constantly circulating through the chamber, and any chilling thereof with the resultant increase in viscosity is prevented.

One important application of the invention is the maintenance of a constant flow of liquid. For this application I utilize a differential regulator subject to the pressures on opposite sides of an orifice, and thus take advantage of the principle that the flow through an orifice is proportional to the difference between the pressures on opposite sides thereof. In one form of this application, I provide a regulator of the diaphragm type having a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber separated by a diaphragm. A valve located in the high-pressure chamber is controlled by the diaphragm and an adjustable spring is provided, bearing on the diaphragm, to maintain the proper differential between the pressures in the two chambers. A control valve is connected on the downstream side of the regulator. The exit side of this valve is connected to the low-pressure chamber of the regulator and the liquid supply for the burner or other consumption device is tapped from the low-pressure chamber. By virtue of this arrangement, the heated liquid passes through the regulator valve and exerts the pressure under which it is supplied on the high-pressure side of the regulator diaphragm, then passes through the control valve and through the low-pressure chamber where it exerts its pressure on the other side of the diaphragm. The liquid then flows on to the burner. The liquid in the low-pressure chamber is thus continuously circulating, being constantly replaced by fresh, heated liquid so that it does not have an opportunity to cool and increase its viscosity.

Instead of the diaphragm regulator, I may employ a device having collapsible bellowsas the pressure-responsive element.

A complete understanding of the invention may be gained from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments outlined above.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a regulator constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a din'erential regulator;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the plane 01' line IV-'-IV of Figure 3 with parts in elevation. and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a modified diflerential regulator.

Referring now in detail to the drawings. A regulator I has a supply connection II to a source of heated liquid such as tar or heavy oil and a delivery connection I2 to a consuming device such as a burner. The supply of heated liquid may be of any suitable character, e. g., a storage tank having a steam coil or other appropriate heating means therein.

The regulator I0 includes a body I3 having a valve chamber I4 formed in the lower portion thereof and a diaphragm chamber I in the upper portion. The supply connection II is threaded into one side of the valve chamber and the delivery connection I2 into one side of the diaphragm chamber. A pipe connection I6 establishes communication between the other sides of the valve and diaphragm chambers.

A diaphragm I1 extends across the open top of a chamber I5 being held thereon by a dome I8 secured to the chamber by screws or bolts. A valve stem I9 has washers 20 secured thereon by a nut 2| threaded on the reduced upper end of the stem, the washers being disposed on opposite sides of the diaphragm. The stem I 3 extends vertically through the valve chamber I4 and diaphragm chamber I5, packing glands 22 being provided to seal the spaces between the stem and chamber walls. The valve chamber I4 has a cross wall 23 with a port therethrough and a seat thereon for a valve disc 24 mounted on the stem.

A compression spring 25 bears on the upper washer 20 and on a washer 26 held in place by an adjusting screw 21 threaded through th top of the dome I8. The screw 21 is adjusted so that the spring 25 tends to hold the valve disc 24 slightly oiT its seat under normal operating conditions. Under such conditions, an increase of the pressure in the chamber I5 displaces the diaphragm I I upwardly moving the valve disc 24 to a more nearly closed position. Conversely, a decrease of the pressure in the chamber I5 permits the spring 25 to force the diaphragm downwardly, thereby moving the valve disc 24 to a more fully open position. A substantially constant pressure is thus maintained in the chamber I5 and also in the outlet connection I2. Any change in the downstream pressure is immediately effective upon the diaphragm to change the position of the control valve to correct such variation. Since the liquid in the chamber I5 is constantly being displaced by fresh, heated liquid. there is no opportunity for the chilling thereof and the consequent increase in viscosity which wlould tend to make the diaphragm action slugg sh.

Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a some what difi'erent type of regulator. cludes a chamber 30 to which a supply pipe 3| and a delivery pipe 32 are connected so that liquid flowing from the pipe 3| to the pipe 32 passes through the chamber. Pressure-responsive means in the form of a collapsible bellows 32' is This type indisposed in the chamber 30 adapted to control a regulating valve 33 connected in the supply pipe 3|. The means whereby the bellows controls the valve may be of any suitable type. an example, I have shown a hydraulic servomotor 34. a control valve 35 therefor and a linkage 38 between the valve 35 and the bellows 32 for operating the latter in accordance with variations in pressure in the chamber 30.

My regulator is well adapted to the maintenance of a constant rate of flow. For this application, I employ a diilerential regulator and a control valve so arranged that the regulator maintains a constant difierence of pressure between opposite sides of the control valve, thereby assuring a constant flow, according to the well known principles of hydraulics, for any given orifice determined by the setting of the control valve. One form of the metering system made available by my invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the regulator itself being designated H0.

The regulator IIO preferably comprises a body including a base and a dome II4 secured thereto by screws H5. A flexible diaphragm II 6, the periphery of which is clamped between the base and dome II4, divides the interior of the regulator into a high-pressure chamber III and a low-pressure chamber II8. A cross wall H9 in the high-pressure chamber has a vertical bore I20 therethrough, the lower end of which forms a seat I 2| for a valve disc I22. The valve disc I22 is mounted on a stem having a shoulder I24 adjacent the upper end. Diaphragm-gripping washers I26 and I2! are clamped between the shoulder I24 and a nut I28 on the extreme upper end of the stem which is threaded. The lower end of the stern has radial guides I29 thereon slidable in a central bore I30 through the bottom of the base. The bore I30 is normally closed by a screw plug I3I.

The supply pipe III is threaded into an inlet port I32 communicating with the high-pressure chamber III on the entering or upstream side of the cross wall II 9. Outlet port I33 communicates with the high-pressure chamber III on the downstream side of the cross wall. An inlet port I34 and an outlet port I35 communicate with the low-pressure chamber II3 within the dome II4. A compression spring I38 bears on a washer I26 and on a washer I31 disposed centrally in the dome II 4 near the top thereof and supported by an adjusting screw I38 threaded through the top of the dome. A pipe connection I39 extends from the outlet port I33 of the highpressure chamber III to a control valve I40. This valve may be of any suitable type and is preferably of the manually operable, variableoriflce type. A pipe connection I4I extends from the valve I40 to the inlet I34 in the low-pressure chamber H8.

The operation of the apparatus will doubtless be apparent from the foregoing description thereof, but will, nevertheless, be reviewed for the sake of completeness.

Heavy oil, tar or other liquid, suitably heated, i. e., to a temperature of from to 300 F., is delivered from the source through the pipe connection III to the high-pressure chamber II! on the entering side oi the cross wall II9 therein. The spring I36 is so adjusted as to exert a slight differential pressure sufficient initially to keep the valve disc I22 below its seat I2I. The liquid thus flows through the bore I20 in the cross wall and through pipe connection I33 to valve I40. An upward pressure is immediately exerted on the regulator diaphragm IIG depending on degree to which the valve I 40 is opened. If

' the valve I 40 is closed, of course, the full line pressure is applied to the diaphragm and thereby moves the valve disc I22 to closed position. If the valve I 40 is partly opened the liquid flows through the pipe connection I4I into the lowpressure chamber H8, at reduced pressure by virtue of the pressure drop across the valve I40. The liquid fills the low-pressure chamber H8 and then flows on through the connection II 2 to the consuming device. A certain back-pressure is developed in the connections H2 and HI and in the chamber II8 by the restricted outlets of the burner nozzle. This pressure is exerted on the upper surface of the diaphragm II6. Any variation of this back-pressure has an immediate reaction through the diaphragm IIS on the position of the valve I22.

As will be apparent from the foregoing the liquid control apparatus of my invention is effective to maintain a predetermined differential pressure across a valve orifice. By this means it is possible to obtain a measured flow of liquid, i. e., to maintain the flow at a constant rate despite changes in the downstream pressure, so long as the pressure on the fluid from the source is large enough to overcome any increase in the pressure downstream. The principal advantage of the invention is that a continuous flow of heated liquid is maintained through the lowpressure chamber IIB whereby the fluid therein is always heated to a temperature at which it is highly fluid so that any change in the back pressure is effective immediately to cause the necessary adjustment of the position of the valve disc I22.

It will be understood that the invention, in effect, provides a differential-pressure regulator, the difference between the pressures on opposite sides of the diaphragm being adjustable by means of screw I38. Usually a relatively small differential between the pressures is suflicient to maintain the desired flow through the valve I40 and to the burner or other consuming device.

Figure illustrates a modified form of metering or flow-control apparatus embodying my invention. In this form, a supply pipe I50 is connected to a chamber I5I having a collapsible bellows I52 therein and a delivery pipe I53 is connected to a chamber I54 having a collapsible bellows I 55 therein. An interconnecting pipe I56 extends from chamber I5I to chamber I54, connections being so made that liquid supplied by pipe I50 passes through the chamber I5I, pipe I56 and chamber I54 successively, before flowing on through the delivery pipe I53. The pipe I56 has an orifice I 51 therein such as afforded by an orifice plate or a manually operable valve of any suitable type. A regulator valve I58 is connected in the supply pipe I50. A servo-motor I59 is provided to operate the valve I58. The motor I59 has a control valve I80 adapted to be operated by a linkage I6I. The linkage I6I is pivoted to a connecting member I62 extending between the bellows I52 and I55. The movement of the member I62, therefore, is determined by the difference between the pressures exerted on the bellows, respectively. Any tendency of this difference to vary from a predetermined setting will cause operation of the linkage I6 I, the valve I60, the motor I59 and the valve I58, whereby the necessary correction will be applied. The principle underlying the operation of the embod- DEHICII mom iment shown in Figure 5 is thus the same as that on which the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 3 and 4 is based.

It will be apparent that my invention is characterized by an important advantage over regulators as heretofore constructed. As previously explained, the liquid which applies the control pressure to operate the regulating valve is maintained substantially at the normal delivery temperature and is not subject to chilling because it is being constantly replaced with fresh heated liquid from the source thereof. My regulator is thus not subject to the sluggish action characterizing previous regulators, as a result of the increased viscosity of the liquid in the impulse line from the downstream side of the regulating valve to the pressure chamber, because of the gradual cooling thereof below the temperature at which the liquid is sufiiciently fluid to flow readily.

The invention has special advantages for burner supply lines. In burning liquid fuel, restrictions sometimes develop in the pipe connections because of accumulation of dirt. The backpressure, furthermore, is frequently subject to considerable variation particularly in installations where a steam jet is utilized to atomize the fuel. This is true even though a constant pressure is maintained on the supply line. As previously indicated, in the forms shown in Figures 4 and 5, the invention provides a metered flow of fuel regardless of variations in the downstream pressure, so long as sufficient pressure is maintained on the upstream side of the regulator.

If desired the valve I 40 may be of special type with a pointer and scale, and may be calibrated to indicate the number of gallons of liquid per hour for which the valve is set, for a given drop in pressure across it. This pressure differential, of course, is obtained by proper adjustment of the spring I36 of the regulator, by means of screw I38. v

A further advantage of the invention is that the regulating apparatus of my invention is no more costly than the control apparatus previously available and is materially less expensive than other expedients that might be resorted to to overcome the difliculty for which my invention is a complete solution.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the construction and arrangement thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A system of supplying to a consuming device a measured flow of a. material such as tar or heavy oil which is fluid only when heated to a temperature substantially above that of the surrounding atmosphere, comprising a source of the material heated to such temperature, a regulator having a cross wall providing a valve seat, a valve adapted to engage said seat, a pipe connection from said source to said regulator on the inlet side of said valve, a yieldable member in said regulator subject on one side to the pressure of the material on the downstream side of the cross wall, means whereby said member is effective under such pressure to close said valve, a connection from a portion of the regulator on said side of said member to a portion of the regulator on the other side of said member, and a pipe connection from said last-mentioned portion to said consuming device whereby the material flowing from said source to said device traverses said last-mentioned portion of the regulator and is ized by a, valve in said second-mentioned connecthereby prevented. by being constantly replaced, tion. from cooling to a temperature at which it is stiff 3. A system as defined by claim 1 characterand viscous, and thereiore incapable of immediized by a spring in said regulator normally tendately reflecting changes of pressure in said last- 5 ing to unseat said valve. mentioned pipe connection.

2. A system as defined by claim 1 character- FREDERICK S. BLOOM. 

